Following months of construction and preparation, Chick-fil-A hosted their grand opening at the Brea Plaza Shopping Center, Jan.13.

Doors opened approximately at 6:30 a.m. as customers stood in line to receive free Chick- Fil-A meal cards as a part of the fast food chain’s grand opening give away tradition.

Meal cards in packages of 52 were awarded to the first 100 winners for those present on the opening day. These cards guarantee customers one free meal per week for the entire year.

To promote the new opening, Chick-Fil-A distributed 8,000 free chicken sandwiches on Jan. 7 and 8 beginning from noon to 2 p.m. to many residents in the community.

“It was really crowded, but definitely worth the wait. The employees were very friendly and courteous and they even handed us free coupons for our next visit,” said Michelle Lu, sophomore.

To help facilitate customer service, golf carts were rented to transport customers around the plaza to the restaurant.

“The golf carts were very convenient, because parking lot spots were limited, and tons of people were crowded outside,” said Katherine Sea, junior.

Customers can also receive free breakfast items every Monday and Wednesday from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. for the four weeks that follow opening week.

“I really love how they are giving out free stuff. It definitely attracts many customers to come and dine at their restaurant,” said Brianna Wingfield, sophomore.

Employees at Chick-fil-A began their training early in preparation for the grand opening. There were a total of 54 people hired, eight of them being students from BOHS.

“One of the main points of working here is to make our customers happy. If a customer says thank you, we must respond with ‘my pleasure,’” said Genna Hill, senior and staff member of Chick-fil-A.

Ruth Kim, senior and team member of Chick-fil-A, said, “The staff taught us so much. We were taught how to manage almost every position, such as working the register, observing food being made in the kitchen, and interacting with customers. It was a really informative and fun experience.”

A video contest was held on Chick- fil- A Brea Plaza’s official Facebook page which sought to find Brea’s “biggest raving fan.” Contestants were to submit a video explaining why they are the “biggest raving fan” of Chick-fil- A at Brea Plaza. The fan who had the most “likes” to his or her video before 12 a.m. on Jan. 4 was declared the winner.

Lindsey Reskey, the winner of the contest, was invited to Brea Plaza’s Premier Night Dinner which was held Jan. 11. Her winning video “Chick-fil-A’s Biggest, Littlest fans,” was also displayed at the dinner, featuring her two younger daughters that captivated viewers to vote for the video.

Reskey received 52 “Be Our Guest” coupons that were valid for one year. The coupons could be redeemed for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich, free medium waffle fries, and a free medium drink.

Like many other restaurants, Chick-fil-A at Brea Plaza offers a drive thru service. For better convenience, there are two drive thru lanes with separate menu boards. Customers can place an order before merging into a lane for pickup and purchase.

“Having two drive thru lanes was a really nice touch added to the restaurant. It eliminates the hassle of traffic jams and customers are happier because they can receive their food faster, said Irwin Nhan, junior.

The new Chick- fil- A will be the tenth Chick-fil-A to open in Orange County.

“It is the outstanding customer service and exceptional food quality that makes Chick-fil-A better than your average fast food restaurant. Opening a Chick-fil-A has been the best thing that ever happened to Brea,” said Kim.